Late homer gives Perry an 8-7 win over Lee County

PERRY — Lee County rallied twice Wednesday, but Perry answered with a decisive three-run home run in the sixth inning and held on for an 8-7 victory in a thriller.

The Lady Trojans took a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the sixth before Kate Murphey delivered the game’s biggest hit, launching a three-run homer to center field to put Perry back in front, 8-7.

Lee County mounted one final threat in the top of the seventh. Jaydynne Frisbee led off with a single to center field, and Brylyn Parsons moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. However, Perry retired the next two batters to preserve the one-run victory.

Makinley Duke powered the Lady Trojans’ offense, finishing 2-for-3 with five RBIs. Her three-run homer to left field in the fifth inning erased a 3-0 deficit and gave Lee County its first lead at 4-3.

Perry answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to move back in front, 5-4, but the Lady Trojans responded again in the sixth. Reese Watkins delivered an RBI single before Duke added another run-scoring hit, giving Lee County a 7-5 advantage.

Murphey’s three-run blast in the bottom half of the inning proved to be the difference.

Perry grabbed an early 1-0 lead on Addison Sisa’s steal of home in the first inning before extending the advantage to 3-0 in the second on an RBI groundout by Emma Rose Wood and an RBI single from Camilia English.

Tina Benton started in the circle for Lee County, allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits over five innings while striking out three. Watkins was charged with the loss in relief after Perry’s sixth-inning rally.

Butler reached base three times on walks and stole two bases as the Lady Trojans drew six walks in the game.

English and Wood each collected two hits for Perry, while Murphey and Wood drove in three runs apiece. Perry also stole six bases in the victory.

The Lady Trojans will host their first home game of the season at Lee County High School at 5 p.m. today (Thursday), Columbus High School is the scheduled opponent.